When you start at a new job it is important that you set your standards early. We know that you will always want to make a good impression when you commence each role and rotation, but this should not be at the expense of your entitlements or health. 

It is much easier at the start of your contract to set boundaries rather than later, where you may have already set the expectations of those around you. The entitlements and work conditions AMA Victoria has negotiated for you in the Doctor in Training (DiT) enterprise agreement are a useful tool to assist you in achieving this. 

When looking to enforce entitlements like being paid for additional hours, taking a break or going home on time it is important to remember that it is not personal, it is a business transaction, it is part of your contract of employment. The terms and conditions that you work under have been agreed by your employer, they accept that you will claim overtime, enforce a 10-hour break between shifts and have time to eat lunch etc.

Each of you, as individuals will need to set the standard that you are willing to accept when it comes to issues like unrostered overtime.  Are you happy to work 30 mins unpaid each day or is 10 mins per day the maximum for you. Everyone is different and has different circumstances they are navigating in balancing their professional and personal lives; however everyone’s entitlements are the same and overtime should be paid on any additional time worked.

What works for you might not work for your colleagues and it is important to understand that many of them have different circumstances they are trying to balance such as carer responsibilities or other commitments outside of work or even training requirements. So, when you see a colleague needing to go home on time, or not answering a WhatsApp message when they are not on duty, you should support and encourage that.

If you find that you are working additional unrostered hours it is important that you claim the overtime. Not only are you entitled to be paid but it will let the health service know that they may need extra staff, or that they may need to adjust the rosters so that they have staff working at the right times. If it’s not claimed, it doesn’t exist, and the health service won’t know that you have worked it. Under the new Agreement they are required to pay for all hours claimed, even if they do not think the hours were necessary. If they have questions about why you worked the extra hours they are entitled to ask you about it, but they must pay you as well.  

Work-life balance is not just about leaving work on time it is also about being able to plan your life in advance. To that end under the new DiT Enterprise Agreement we have negotiated an increase to the notice period for your roster, from 14 days to 28. Therefore you must receive your rostered hours at least 28 days before you are due to start that roster period. The only reason health services have to not comply with this or to change a roster within that 28 day period is where there is a genuine emergency situation, e.g. a bush fire.